I don’t know if my parents purchased them or if my grandparents bought them, but somewhere in the house we have a few Bible stories on View-Master®. Sometimes images from your childhood will appear for no good reason, and for me, a few days ago, it was the scene where the head of John the Baptist is brought to Herodias’ daughter on a platter. Wikipedia explains:

According to Mark 6:21-29 a daughter of Herodias danced before Herod and her mother Herodias at the occasion of his birthday, and in doing so gave her mother the opportunity to obtain the head of John the Baptist. Even though the New Testament accounts do not mention a name for the girl, this daughter of Herodias is often identified with Salome. According to Mark’s gospel Herodias bore a grudge against John for stating that Herod’s marriage to her was unlawful; she encouraged her daughter to demand that John be executed.

17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her.18 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.”19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless,20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.”23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”

24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”

Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”

25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”

26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her.27 So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.

Anyway, the image flashed into my brain this week for some reason, and I looked for it online this morning, but it’s probably just as well I didn’t locate it.

“Why did you buy that one?” I asked my mom on Thursday.

She remembered the product but didn’t recall the purchase, which leads me to believe it was my grandparents. Despite the rather gruesome image — here’s one to give you the idea — I wasn’t traumatized, I do have a healthy relationship with the New Testament today, but I don’t advise this story be told or illustrated if you kids under a certain age.